Hydraulic vane type clutch



July 25, 1950, v. E. GLEAsMAN 2,516,461

HYDRAULIC VANE TYPE CLUTCH Filed Jan. 20, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 U1 y vl/ENTOR. s [s BYWQQAW X/Tm sg July 25, 195o V. E. GLEASMAN HYDRAULIC VANE TYPE CLUTCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1947 m w M m :m N wmum d." IJ@ NN t.. NHN www HN ,lp w 55W om x, W 2 m E m mm v N. wm E an S. :wm www mi2 #a3 vm vmmmm www @n wom July 25, 1950 Filed Jan. 20, 1947 v. E. GLEASMAN 2,516,461

v HYDRAULICVANE TYPE CLUTCH IOC 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 BOb f5 w I ENTOR.

Patented July 25, 1950 ITED STATES/PTENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC VANE TYP-E CLUTCH Vernon E. Gleasiiian, Elmira, N'. Y. Appiication January 20, 1947, Serial No. '223,149

12 Claims.

This invention is a novel variable speed fluid drive, and the principal objects thereof are to provide a drive of theabove typeconsistin'g of relatively few parts and of simple construction, the same being provided with a manual control, or automatic governor to .maintain constant Speedunder variable loads; also a drive that will be positive due to the design, and which will be reversible, and a dri-ve having an adjustable torque governor.

Heretofore fluid drives have been rn-anuiac.N tured, the same utilizing standard pump` principles whichl involve maximum volume and minimaum horsepower requirements. and which do not approach positive displacement, whereas in my drive the pump is designed for minimum volume and maximum horsepower and positive displace@ ment, and therefore for this reason my drive has proven to be most eficient, and practical.

Other minor objectsl oi the invention Will-:be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one practical embodiment thereoi to enable others familiar with the art to adoptand use thev same; and will summarize in the claims, the novel fea tures of construction, and novel` combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel fluid drive f assembled With a governor or manual control.

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the drive. y

Fig. 3 is a. vertical section on the line 3.-3., Fig. 2-.

Fig. 4 is a, vertical section on the line If-4,

Fig, .5. is a section on the line 5 5, Fig.

Fig. 6 is a rear end view ofi-the fluid drivev and governor or manual control shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a detail section through the manual control. y

Fig. 8 is a, longitudinal section through the huid drive and overload torque governor and the inanual control on the line 8 8', Fig. 6..

Fig. 9 is an end view showing the eccentric i..

As shown more particularly in Figs. Band ii, the variable speed fluid drive preferably com'- prises a gland housing I of annular shape adapt ed to receive a rotary hub 3, rotatably mounted therein, said hub 3. being connected directly with the drive shaft i3d and having an enlarged `head 3e at. one end of substantially the same outer diameter as the housing I against which the same makes a running lt.

Between the hub 3 and the housing I are spaced gland packings 2.5 forming annular cham bers around the hub 3 for inlet and outletof fluid as hereinafter explained, the inlet being numbered 25d and the outlet. 25h., Inlet. 25a communicates with anannular inlet groove `Ib within the bore of the casing housing I, which in turn is connected through duct Id, Fig. 4, with, a rfluid inlet pipe ID while outlet 25D communicates with an annular groove Ie in the bore of housing I communicating directly through duct ic with the outlet pipe, 1 of the housing. The .outside pipes I0 and 'I serve as a radiating means for dissipating heat and controlling oil temperatures.

Hub 3 is formed with an inlet duct 3d extend ing therethrough communicating, at one end with the inlet channel 25a and its other end. dis.- charging as at bradj-acent the outer end ofthe enlarged head 3e of hub 3 adjacent its periphery. Within hub 3 is also a discharge duct 3c extending from the outer end of the. enlarged head 3e adjacent the periphery and preferably substantially diametrically opposite the inlet port 3b., said ductv 3c extending through the hub 3. and terminating at the. discharge channel 25h.

The housing I is, heldf'tothe hub4 3- by means of a collar |12 on drive shaft I3asecured by a. set Screw I3 or thelike, and a gland II isinterposed between the. collar I2 and the outer ends ofv the gland packings 25 to prevent passage of oil outvvardlyAv to the collar I2 along hub 3, gland II having a flange ila. which is secured by sore-Ws I4- or thewlike, Figure 2, to the adjacent end of housing I, Anannular drainage space is provided between the housing and head 3e adapted to collect oil at the opposite end of the housing I and return same-through duct la; into a. drainage pipe 2 asr shown in. Figs. 3 and 8 tov a suitable oil receptacle or reservoir (not shown) rlghe periphery of head 3e of hub 3 is threaded as at .3f and an outer impeller housing l is se.- cured by internal threads thereto at one end, the housing having its opposite end internally threaded to receive a bearing housing@u containingabearing 20; a seal packing I9;l a seal i8 and asealing Il torthe driven shaft 61 as shown in Fig. 3. Shaft 6 extends through the bearing 2B into an inner impeller housing 2| and has its inner end journaled in a bearing 22 in the end of the head 3e of hub 3, bearing 22 being housed in a recess in the head 3 connected by a duct 3d (Fig. 3) with the inlet duct 3a within the hub 3 or it might be connected to outlet duct 3c instead to provide pressure beneath blades 23 to aid or replacev the springs 24, hereinafter referred to.

Fixedly mounted on shaft 6 within the outer impeller housing 4 is an impeller 6a which rotates within the eccentric inner impeller housing 2|, said inner housing 2| being capable of 180 rotation within the outer housing 4 and being locked with respect to the outer housing 4 in one of the two 180 positions by a pin 69:, Fig. 5, in the end of the inner housing 2| and entering one of two blind holes spaced 180 apart in the end 3e of the hub 3.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 5, the lower half of the bore of the inner irnpeller housing is arcuate and makes a sliding fit around the lower periphery of the impeller 6a, while the upper half of the bore is arcuate but ec'centrically disposed with respect to the axis of the impeller 5c so as to leave spaces denoted by the reference numerals 2 lb and 2| c, Fig. 5, between the upper periphery of impeller 6a and the bore of the inner impeller housing.

Mounted in slots spaced around the periphery of impeller 6a are a plurality of blades 23, four being shown in Fig. 5, the same being yieldably urged radially outwardly by means of springs 24 disposed between the inner end of the blades 23 and the bottoms of the slots therefor in the impeller 6a, the inner end of the slots being connected by intercommunicating ducts 5b, Figs. 5 and 11, which extend through the mpeller 6a to a central duct 6c Which extends through the inner end of shaft 6 and communicates with the bore 3d (Fig. 3) in hub 3, in order to release vacuum or fluid from the slots for blades V23 so that the blades 23 may oscillate or move freely in and out of their slots at all times.

As shown in Fig. 3, the lower thicker inner end of the inner impeller housing 2| is cut away or recessed as at 2|a opposite the outlet duct 3c, and a thrust plate 2'! is preferably interposed between the inner end of impeller 6a and the adjacent wall of head 3e of hub 3 to maintain the impeller 6a properly spaced within the outer impeller housing 4, said plate 2'| being of the same diameter as the interior of housing 4 and having port holes 21a therein opposite the inlet port 3b and the outlet port 3c of hub 3.

As shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8, a manually controlled valve is provided in the outlet pipe adopted to control the speed of the driven shaft B by controlling the flow of fluid through the outlet pipe 'I of the drive, the valve being denoted by the reference numeral 9 and carrying a pointer cooperating with a graduated scale 8 showing the degree of opening of the valve, said pointer when opposite the zero graduation closing the valve and thereby stopping flow of iluid through the outlet l. Valve 9 is a two-way and is rotatable in both directions and is preferably provided with a bleeder orifice 39a for permitting inflow of air and a small amount of lubricant for lubricating the inner impeller housing 2| and blades 23 in the impeller 6a when the impeller is non-rotating, the air allowing shaft 6 to idle more freely. In operation, when the valve 9 is fully opened and the shaft |3a is rotated by a prime mover (not shown), the hub3 and outer impeller housing 4' and its end housing 5 Will rotate as a unit with drive shaft |3a, and the fluid under vacuum entering the unit through the pipe IQ will be drawn out without obstruction into the area 2 Ib between the impeller 6a and the top of inner impeller housing 2|, while at the same time the fluid in area 2|c will be forced out through the ducts 2|a, ports 21a, and duct 3c and will be discharged through the outlet pipe l, and thus the impeller 6a, and its driven shaft 6 will remain stationary, the iluid being merely drawn through the inlet duct 3o: of the hub without pressure against the blades 23 and being expelled from the areas 2 b without pressure through the outlet pipe As the control valve 9 is being closed, with fluid passing therethrough, part of the ow of Huid is shut oi Within outlet pipe 'i in a progressive manner, thus building up pressure in the areas 2|c between the wall of the inner impeller housing 2| and the impeller ta, which pressure acts against the blades 23 in the areas 2 Ib, causing the impeller 6c to rotate with the outer im- -peller housing 4 according to the setting of the valve A9, and thus all parts of the assembly are rotated with the exception of the lgland housing i which remains stationary, the amount of rotation being proportional to the degree of closing the valve 9. When fully closed the impeller Sa. and driven shaft 6 rotate as a unit disregarding any small slippage of the driven shaft |3a. If the direction of the rotation of shaft i3d, is reversed, it will be necessary to remove pin 5x, Fig. 5, and rotate the inner housing 2| through 180, replacing the pin 6o: in the new position so that the flow of oil will be diverted to the opposite side of the impeller Ba, thus making the uid clutch operable in the new direction of rotation.

In place of the optional manual control I may provide a governor on the outlet pipe 'l for regulating the speed of ow of the fluid through said outlet, the same being automatically adjustable as to overload and underload. The governor is illustrated in Figs. 1, 6, 8, and 12, and consists of a housing 28 having diametrioally opposed ducts 28h and 28e communicating with a bore 28a disposed transversely of the outlet pipe 7, said bore 28a having a lateral extension 28d (Fig. 8), the outer end of which is connected by a duct 28e with the lower duct 28e. The outer end of the extension 28d is closed by a cap 281, a gasket 28g being preferably interposed between the cap and the end of the lateral extension to make the connection oil-tight. The inner end of the bore 28a is connected by a duct 28k with the upper bore 28h of the housing 28 for the purpose of acting as a bleeder.

The bore 28a is provided with a tubular extension 28h of reduced diameter which is threaded as shown in Fig. 8 to receive the tapped bore of a sleeve 30 which is preferably calibrated at its inner end as at 30h, Fig. l2, overlying the housing 28 so as to indicate the setting thereof. Sleeve 3B has a reduced bore 30a adjacent its outer end, and an internal annular shoulder 38e is arranged between the larger threaded inner bore and the reduced outer bore 30a, said shoulder being of same diameter as the valve stem 3| hereinafter referred to.

At the outer end of the sleeve 30 lbeyond the reduced bore 33a is an enlarged bore 30d. which is threaded at its outer end to receive-a cap 32, which seals the outer end thereof. The stem 3| 'Il l passes through the sleeve 30, through the bores acid-roll 5, 3911","'30'a and the shoulder Bile a-ndisV connected withfa cylindrical valve 33 having an annular groove therein adapted when opposite the ports Y2th,V 28C to establish communication between-theisections ofthe outlet pipeil, but when the valve 33 is shifted `-a'xiallyof the bore 28a in onedirecticn the passage will be'progressively closed, or `progressively opened when shifted in the other direction.

The outer end of the stern 3l carries nuts 3'4 separated by washer '35` and a spring 36 is dis' posed-around. vthe stem between thenuts 34 and the annular shoulder 38e of sleeve 30, while a second spring 3? is disposed around. the stem'alV between the annular shoulderlle' and the valve 33;," said spring 3'! passing through the vreduced bore of the housing 23. Springs '3s and 31 thus actinppposite directions, spring 36 tending to move the' valve 33 to the right, Fig. 8, and spring Siftending to push the valve 33 to theleft, Fig. 8. "l'y the above construction .the normal setting of .thelvalve 33 is controlled. by rotation of the calibrated sleeve 3c on' the housing 28; thereby shifting the valve 33 by action of the oppositely acting springs SiS-Sito the desiredv position of registry of the annular groove 33d of the valve 33 with respect to the opposed ducts 28h, 23e in thehcusing. If the pressure of iiuid in the outlet'pipe 'between the governor and the gland housingl increasesthefluid will be by-passed through the duct 28e to the outer end of the valve 33 into the space between the outer end. of the valve 33 and the cap 23T compressing spring 3T .and .closing the valve ,33 accordingly. If the pressure in said portion of the outlet Ypipe "lv decreases, spring 31 will force the valve 33 to the left (Fig. 8) to compensate for underload forcing the Huid in chamber 28d back through duct 28e, thereby increasing the flow of fluid from the housing t. rIhus, the valve acts as an efficient overload or underload torque' governor to maintain the speed of the drive shaft and impeller Gaconstant according tothe setting of the sleeve sfregardless of fluctuations of a variableitorque load.

,flt' is desirable for a machine tool cutterto run at the same speed when the cutter is free or when same is in the work. Nhen the cutter is in the Work a greater torque is required and this would normally tend to slow down shaft 6 by forcing more oil through passages 28e and 33a by a rise in pressure, but due to the oppositely acting springs 3B and 31 a rise in pressure would shift valve 33 to the left (Fig. 8) and close off passage 28e, so as to maintain a constant volume of ow to maintain a constant speed of rotation of shaft 6.

As shown in Figs. 6, 8 and 12, in the optional manual control the valve 9 may be used as a bleecler valve, same being mounted in a casing 39 through which extends a small hole 39a for air which may enter duct 39e within pipe 39j which is connected to inlet pipe It. The valve 9 is held within casing 39 by a nut 38.

While in the specification I have described the shaft i3d as being the drive shaft and shaft 6 the driven shaft, obviously shaft 6 could be the drive shaft and shaft llic the driven shaft without necessitating any mechanical alteration of the functional parts.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

11'. A variable speed fluid :drive comprising' al housing; a hub'jour-naledtherein carrying adrivo shaft; said housing having iniet and outlet .grooves communicating ythrough ducts with fluid inlet and outlet pipes; said hub having annular inlet and outfet grooves opposite those the housing connected by ducts inthe hub terminating at o-pposed points at one end of the hub adjacentthe periphery thereof; an outery impeller housing cit-- tending from-the said end of the fhub'and having a closed outer end; an inner impeller housing within the outer housing having half of its bore disposed -eccent cally of .the other half-;"means for fixedly secu-11 g the inner housing within-the outer housing with the -m-id points/cf' the' radial' and eccentric portions ofY the bore 'disposed-fop-v positeV the ends of the ducts in the huh; the inner end of the radial portion of the inner impeller chamber vbeing cut awa?,T opposite its relatedduct in the hub a drivenlshaft extending'through the closed end of the outer `housing and journaied'in said end of the hub; an im'pelier --Xedly mounted on the drivenshaft; a seriesy cf-f'olades'rnounted in the impeller and engaging the inner -wall of the inner housing; and means for controlling -th-e flow `of oil through the outlet pipe to control the speed of rotation of the driven shaft.

2. In a drive as set forth in claim 1, said hub having an annular recessadjacent the outer im peller housing tol vprovide an annular drainage space between the housing and hub to collect fluid; and means for withdrawing the fluid from said space. y

v3. In a drive as set forth in claim l, said driven shaft havinga bore communicating withducts in the impeller extending to the bottoms of the blade slots in the impeller; and said 'hub' having a` further duct communicating with the bore of the driven shaft and with one of the first men-l tioned ducts in the hub, to provide vacuum or pressure beneath the blades.`

4. In a drive as set forth in claim v1, said control means comprising .a manually controlled valve in the outlet pipe adapted to progressively restrict the flow of fluid therethrough, said valve carrying a .pointer cooperating with agraduated scaleyand said valve having a bleeder orifice for admitting air and. lubricant for lubricating the inner impeller housing and blades in the impeller when the impeller is non-rotating.

5. A reversible variable speed fluid drive cornprising a housing; a hub journaled therein carrying a drive shaft; said housing having annular inlet and outlet grooves communicating through ducts with fluid inlet and outlet pipes connected with the housing; said hub having annular inlet and outlet grooves opposite those in the housing connected by ducts in the hub terminating at opposite points at one end of the hub adjacent the periphery thereof; an outer impeller housing extending from said end of the hub and having a closed outer end; an inner impeller housing within the outer housing having substantially half of its bore disposed eccentrically of the other half; means for xedly securing the inner housing in two positions disposed apart within the outer housing with the mid points of the radial and eccentric portions of the bore disposed opposite the ends of the ducts in the hub; the inner end of the radial portion of the inner impeller chamber being cut away opposite its related duct in the hub; a driven shaft extending through the closed end of the outer housing and journaled in said end of the hub; an

impeller iixedly mounted on the driven shaft; a series of blades mounted in the impeller and engaging the inner Wall of the inner housing; and means for controlling the fiovv of oil through the outlet pipe to control the speed of rotation of the driven shaft.

6. In a drive as set forth in claim 5, said hub having an annular recess adjacent the outer impeller housing to provide an annular drainage space between the housing and hub to collect fluid; and means for withdrawing the fluid from said space.

f 7. In a drive as set forth in claim 5, said control means comprising a manually controlled valve in the outlet pipe adapted to progressively restrict the iiow of fluid therethrough, said valve carrying a pointer cooperating with a graduated scale; and said valve having a bleeder orifice for admitting air and lubricant for lubricating the inner impeller housing and blades in the impeller when the impeller is non-rotating.

8. In a drive as set forth in claim 5, said inner housing fixing means comprising a pin in the end of the inner impeller housing adapted to enter holes spaced 180 apart in the said end of the hub.

9. A reversible variable speed fluid drive comprising a gland housing; a hub journaled therein lcarrying a drive shaft at one end and an enlarged head at the other end; spaced gland packings between the housing and hub forming annuvlar'inlet and outlet chambers around the hub connecting with annular inlet and outlet grooves in the housing which communicate through ducts with fluid inlet and outlet pipes connected with .having a closed outer end; an inner impeller housing Within the outer housing having substantially half of its bore disposed eccentrically of the other half; means for xedly securing the inner housing in two positions disposed 180 apart within the outer housing with the mid points of the radial and eccentric portions of the 8 bore disposed opposite the ends of the ducts in the hub; the inner end of the radial portion of the inner impeller chamber being out away opposite its related duct in the hub; a driven shaft extending through the closed end of the outer housing and journaled in the outer end of the enlarged hub; an impeller xedly,

mounted on the driven shaft; a series of blades mounted in the impeller and engaging the inner wall of the inner impeller housing; and means for controlling the flow of oil through the outlet pipe to control the speed of rotation of the driven shaft.

10. In a drive as set forth in claim 9, a thrust plate disposed between the impeller and enlarged end of the hub and having ports opposite the ducts in the hub.

11. In a drive as set forth in claim 9, said driven shaft having a bore communicating with ducts in the impeller extending to the bottoms of the blade slots in the impeller; and said hub having a further duct communicating with the bore of the driven shaft and with one of the rst mentioned ducts in the hub, to provide vacuum or pressure beneath the blades.

12. In a drive as set forth in claim 9, said inner housing fixing means comprising a pin in the end of the inner impeller housing adapted to enter holes spaced 180 apart in the said end of the hub.

VERNON E. GLEASMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record `in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

